How E-commerce Giants Use Data to Influence What You Buy

Author(s): Harshit Kandoi

Originally published on Towards AI.

Photo by Mark König on Unsplash

Picture this: You’re casually scrolling through an online store, eyeing a techy new mobile. You haven’t bought it yet. A few hours later, it’s suddenly everywhere. Instagram ads, sidebar popups, email notifications. But that’s not all, you’re now being shown matching covers, earpods, and even the same company watches. Coincidence? Not a chance. This is data in action, quietly shaping your online shopping journey.

In 2025, e-commerce giants like Amazon, Flipkart, and Alibaba are far from just virtual assistants. They’re complex ecosystems built on algorithms, personal preferences, and non-stop testing. What we see, when we see it, and how much we love to spend is less about chance and more about smart systems learning how to make us click on the buy button.

On platforms like Reddit, People often joke about how accurate some product suggestions are, while other users question whether these algorithms are getting a bit too powerful. Has the balance between helpful and manipulative tipped?

This article peels back the digital curtain on what’s happening. We’ll learn about recommendation engines, A/B testing, and behavior tracking — three key forces turning your digital footprints into full shopping carts. You’ll also uncover some practical tips to shop… Read the full blog for free on Medium.

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Published via Towards AI